Trouble by Non Pratt

Author:Non Pratt
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Pregnancy, Juvenile Fiction, Dating & Sex, Friendship, Social Issues
ISBN: 9781442497740
Publisher: Walker
Published: 2014-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

WEDNESDAY 3RD FEBRUARY

AARON

It’s cold, it’s windy and tiny droplets of drizzle lash what little of my face is exposed to the elements. How I ended up being roped into going to the corner shop to buy Hannah an ice cream is beyond me. I’m even more bewildered that I’ve been tasked to bring back treats for Anj and Gideon as well.

The bell on the door is broken, which suits me fine when I see who’s browsing the magazines as I walk in the shop. Katie’s hair is plastered to her head and there’s a distinct shiver to her stance. Thankfully, she’s too distracted to notice me walk to the freezer. By the time I’ve collected everything, Katie’s moved on to arguing with the shopkeeper about serving her cigarettes. There’s a stash of gossip magazines and various diet drinks on the counter in front of her. I guess as bottom feeder of the WAG hierarchy it’s her job to brave the rain and fetch supplies. I could be accused of hypocrisy here, since Katie’s going to get more enjoyment out of those magazines than I will out of this Feast, Gideon’s banana milkshake or Anj’s disgusting prawn-cocktail crisps, but at the end of the day I’m aware of the difference between buying refreshments and buying friendship.

“Thanks for nothing,” Katie hisses at the shopkeeper, turning so violently that she’s propelled the metre it takes to bump into me. For a second her glance slides over me as if I’m nothing but an obstruction, then her eyes narrow.

I step past and pay for my haul, aware that Katie hasn’t moved. As I head for the door, she falls into step beside me.

“News flash, Emo Boy, it’s winter.” She snatches Hannah’s ice cream from my hands and flicks it against my shoulder hard enough for it to snap before handing it back as we reach the exit.

I jam my toe under the edge of the door.

“Buy another one,” I say, quietly.

“Fuck off!” Katie tries to yank the door open, but I lean my weight on it. “Get out the fucking way!”

I wait, impassive.

“Aaron!”

“So you do know my name.”

“Just move.”

“Don’t want to keep your friends waiting, do you?”

She shoots me a murderous glare. “As if you’re going to stand there all day.” But I can tell by the way she looks at me that she’s not sure I won’t. “What do you want?”

I look at her and wait some more until she storms off in a cloud of swear words, returning with a new ice cream.

“Thank you,” I say, holding the door open for her.

“I hope you choke on it.”

“Unlikely. It’s for Hannah.” Katie’s three paces ahead, but she still hears me and I see her half turn, her face relaxed enough for me to see something there – a sadness so profound that for a fleeting moment I think that maybe—

“Well, Hannah can fucking choke on it, then, can’t she?” She marches ahead of me, arms crossed against the wind, magazines tucked under her blazer.

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